At Gehl, we know that thoughtful urban planning and design has the power to change lives. With a dedication to the everyday lived experience of people, we help shape places that connect people to each other, their communities, and the planet.

Our approach is based on the human scale and the effect of the built environment on people’s everyday lived experiences. We consider lively and widely-used public spaces to be the key to quality of life and to overall well-being of communities.

Cities are experienced at eye level — engaging all our senses. While every city has its own unique context, culture, and climate, the way people engage with their environment remains universally human. Yet, many cities today are built in ways that hinder our natural ways of moving, engaging, connecting, and sharing. We approach every new context by re-evaluating the physical surroundings and how they can positively adapt and evolve to support a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable life.

We focus on the spaces in-between — the streets, parks, and plazas where people gather, share experiences, and build community. Through thoughtful urban strategy and design, we craft places that are not only functional but are kind to people, enhancing their everyday lives and giving them a sense of agency. These are places that feel accessible and inviting, encouraging movement, social connection, and a sense of belonging and fulfillment.

From eye-level to high-level, we honor the delicate balance between urban and natural systems and strive to make a positive difference for people, places, and the planet.

Blaine Merker, Team Director US Enterprise & Corporations, Head of Climate, Partner

We’ve always understood that social, physical, and ecological systems are deeply interconnected — shaping not just human life — but the entire web of life. Shifting from a human-centered perspective to a life-centered one means recognizing that humans are part of the ecosystem, not the sole focus of it. Our well-being is inseparable from the health of the ecosystems we share with other species — water, food, air, and the natural resources that sustain us all.

Gehl’s life-centered urban design approach considers the needs of both humans and more-than-human species that make up our environments. This influences how we experience cities — living closer together, sharing resources, and embracing nature’s presence in our daily lives.

By designing places that work with ecosystems, we not only reduce emissions and protect biodiversity but also create urban environments where humans and other species can thrive together. From the way we walk the streets to how we breathe the air, we experience our environment not as isolated inhabitants but as integrated members of a much larger, shared ecosystem.

It all comes back to relationships and the places we shape that shape us.